Banjo or similar musical instrument



(No Model.)

J. A. TODD. BANJO 0R SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

NO. 508,586. Patented Nov. 14,1893.

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WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. TODD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BANJO OR SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,586, dated November 14, 1893.

Application filed January 1'7 1893. flarial No. (N0 m To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs A. TODD, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Devices for the Improvement of Certain Musical Instruments, especially the Banjo, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to a means of construction. One of the objects is to simplify the manufacture, and another is to do away with the unsightly brackets now in universal use through the medium of a thick rim or shell, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the same letters of reference indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure l is a view of a banjo made after my plan, without the neck or strings. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same, showing the recess in the rim, and the flesh hoop therein, with one of the hooks in proper position. Fig. 3 is a detail of flesh hoop and hoop C. Fig. 4 is a detail showing the nut hole in the run.

A is the rim. B is the recess therein. The head may be stretched by forcing the flesh hoop downward.

O is the flesh hoop.

D is the hook.

E is the hole through the rim, showing D in position Within E, and F is the screw nut for tightening the head.

0 is the hoop bearing upon 0.

In the construction of the ordinary banjo, outside hooks and brackets are universally used, which is one great objection, as they are liable to catch in a persons clothing and tear the same,and it is especially the case when the person playing is one of the female sex, as she generally wears thinner and finer fabrics than the male sex.

Now the banjo constructed on my plan has not any of the above mentioned objections, because the hooks, screw nuts, and all parts liable to catch and wear when coming in contact with personal wearing material are contained within the rim, and entirely out of the way.

I do not use any brackets in the construction of my invention. It is not necessary to do so, as will be seen by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Another advantage I obtain, is that the strain, in tightening the head, is in a line with the hooks, and side of the rim. Whereas in other than my method brackets fastened to the side of the rim are employed, which make the rim liable to warp and get out of proper shape.

In the construction of my invention I employ a thick rim Figs. 1, and 2, marked A, in which is a grooved recess B, all around the said rim, and made deep enough to allow for tightening the head. I employ the ordinary flesh hoop O, and the ordinary hoop c, which th'd'liook D, grasps and forces down upon 0, when the screw nut F, is made to draw the hook D, firmly into its proper position.

The foregoing is as correct an explanation as I am able to give based upon the letter and spirit of the patent laws.

As far as I am aware of the efforts of prior inventors, they have employed some means substantially different from mine.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. A musical instrument having a head of membrane or other suitable material in combination with a rim constructed of wood having a groove arranged within and around its upper edge within which groove the flesh hoop and the tightening hoop are drawn by the tightening hooks and tightening ,nuts, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A musical instrument having a head of membrane or other suitable material in combination with a rim constructed entirely of solid wood having a groove arranged within and around its upper edge within which groove the flesh hoop and the tightening hoop are drawn by the tightening hooks and tightening nuts, and having holes for said hooks and nuts at intervals through from edge to edge of said rim substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JAMES A. TODD. 

